Hello! This chapter will be have a major plot twist that may answer a question of some of the more keen eyed readers. It will also show a more mellow side of Naruto's life and his connection to konoha.

As always, neither Genshin impact nor Naruto belong to me. They belong to Mihoyo and Masashi Kishimoto respectively Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Kurama/Spirits speaking"

'Kurama/Spirits thinking'

'Jutsu (will be Japanese where possible.)'

"Hi! We'd like a seat at your.. ah least conspicuous table." A nervous Venti, a tired Lumine, and a suspicious looking Paimon appeared in the tavern.

"Uhh.. The second floor has less customers, you'll be less conspicuous up there, but shouldn't a bard, be playing front and center?" Dliuc asked confusedly.

"Let's save the paid performance for later. Come on guys!" with that, they trio went upstairs to hide. By this time, Kaeya had already left and only Naruto and Diluc were at the counter.

"Keep an eye on them Naruto. Make sure they don't run." Diluc said with a serious tone to an equally serious looking Naruto.

"Leave it to me boss." With that, Naruto activated his rinnegan, made a few hand signs muttered, "Ninpo: chameleon jutsu," and disappeared.

'Now, what is this about. Well, my regulars should be here soon. I'll ask them.'

Right on cue, two knights burst into the pub.

"Master Diluc! Have you seen two thieves running around?" asked the first knight.

"What happened? Why are there so many guards?" Diluc asked.

"Haven't you heard Master Diluc? The holy lyre was stolen from the cathedral!"

"So let me get this straight. The Holy Lyre, one of the most well-guarded objects in Mondstadt, was stolen under the noses of the Knights of Favonius?" cue snickering from an invisible blond upstairs.

"Uhh -ahem.. Yes?" the knight looked quite unsure about what to say.

"What lunatic in their right mind would try to steal that? The wine from my cellars could be sold for a better price." Red eyes looked straight at the knight who had spoken. "I don't know where they could be and I didn't see them."

"Ok. Thank you Master Diluc." With a salute, the knights run off to find other suspects.

Said master looks up toward the second floor. "You can come down now."

"Phew~! Thanks Master Diluc! Today I think I'll have a glass of…-

"You can put down that bottle you stole from behind the counter." Diluc said with his arms crossed

"Something cold." Venti completed his sentence and turned around to face the taller man, briefly eying the door, which proved futile when the air shimmered and Naruto appeared leaning on it.

"Right. I want answers. So, Talk. Now." Diluc's tone got the bard's attention.

"Lemme finish my drink first. Then I'll pay you – with a performance."

"Forget the money. You look too young to be drinking."

"Please! I've been drinking before you we- ahem" Venti caught himself with a cough before he accidently spilled some unwanted beans.

'That would've been the worst way to reveal your identity, Venti.' Naruto and Lumine thought in sync.

"Anyway, this is Master Diluc, the owner of this lovely establishment. His dandelion wine is one of my favorites. He owns most of the wine businesses in Mondstadt." Soon enough, Venti was rambling about Diluc while Lumine and Paimon were listening.

"I think you heard the conversation I has with the guards. For the record, I like your guts, but bravery won't get you anywhere with that kind of idiocy. There's a reason we don't see fools like you often."

"It wasn't us! Paimon swears on Sara's food! It was one of those weird Fatui mages with the insects! You know, with the lantern and the ears?"

"Cicin mages." Naruto said quietly. "They can teleport. And I wouldn't put it past the fatui to try a stunt like that."

"Naruto, are saying the truth?" Diluc's hand went to the middle of his stomach and traced a subtle circle.

Understanding what Diluc wanted, Naruto spoke to his inbuilt lie detector. 'Kurama?'

"They aren't lying, brat"

"They aren't lying boss." Naruto repeated to his adoptive father who nodded in response. "But why did you try to steal it in the first place? Like father said, it'd pay better to steal from his cellars." Naruto questioned.

"Well, when the Holy Lyre is played, it can call Dvalin to it. He was corrupted by the abyss order into believing that Mondstadt betrayed him. If we can save him, we can save Mondstadt." Venti sounded downcast when he was talking about Dvalin's corruption., but did a 180 when talking about saving Mondstadt

"Really?" Naruto said with wide eyes.

"Really!" Venti answered in earnest. He could feel the enthusiasm of the boy.

"Alright then," Diluc jumped into the conversation, "I will believe you. Meet me back here in 2 days. I'll bring some acquaintances that will help you. Meanwhile, the fuss about the thieves seems to have died sown a bit."

"It's safe outside," said Naruto, "The guards are back at their regular patrols. You should be safe now, but watch out. By tomorrow, you should be safe. Also one more thing. Why didn't you just explain this to Aun- Ahem, I mean Master Jean? I'm sure she'd provide you with the papers you needed. Barbara told me that you just need permission from her sister to get the holy lyre."

"Umm.. Why are you looking at me like that traveler?" Venti shuffled his feet while looking at the glaring faces of Lumine and Paimon. "Anyways, let's forget this little mistake and meet here in two days shall we? Ehe~" and with that, the bard bolted out of the pub.

"Well! I'm going for a stroll. See you in 2 days!" With that Naruto also left the pub, leaving Lumine and Paimon with the judgmental gaze of Diluc pointed at them.

"Um, We'll also be on our way as well." The pub was now almost empty with only it's owner to be seen. Diluc sighed and looked at a corner. A fatui agent fell to the floor, immobile but in no way quiet, as Naruto walked out from the shadows.

"You fatui are all the same. You never learn to keep an eye on your surroundings, do you?" Naruto's tone was full of mirth, but his eyes weren't.

"You! Once I get out of this, the harbingers will hear of this! Let me free and I will lessen your punishment!" The agent said with a light struggle. "What did you even do to me?"

"Oh getting to the important questions now are we? Well, would you believe me when I say that this slip of paper did this?" Naruto asked with a smile while holding up a piece of paper with some lines on it. "Anyways, you've been a very bad at your job. So, I'll just let you off after erasing your memories."

Losing the smile, Naruto kneels down, activates his rinnegan and closes his eyes. With a deep breath, he opens his left eye and grunts in pain as it starts to bleed. The rinnegan had changed, the colour facing to red at the center and 3 tomoe spinning around it. The fatui agent stared at the spinning eye, before his head collapsed on the floor. Naruto opens his other eye and takes deep breaths, as his eyes fade back to blue.

Instantly, Diluc is on the floor and looking at Naruto worriedly. "Are you ok? That seemed to take a lot out of you." He asked the latter while holding his shoulders.

"Yeah, I still don't get why backtracking to the sharingan drains me so much though." Naruto wiped the blood off his face before looking at the collapsed agent and pulling the seal off his back. "What about him, dad?"

"I'll deal with that. Are you sure you're, ok?", at his nod, Diluc continued, "Then, I need you to go and tell Jean and Kaeya to meet me at the pub today. Tell Kaeya to try and keep the knights off our backs. Got it?"

"Yeah. Leave it to me dad." With that, Naruto disappeared in an orange flash and reappeared at the stairs below the Knights HQ.

Greeting the guards, he walks inside and relays the message to Kaeya and Jean before going outside and walking outside the city. By now, it was already night, so the only people outside, were the gate guards. Outside the gate, Naruto breaks out into a run and arrives at the winery in a few minutes. He waved at some of the workers before sprinting, jumping over a waterfall with his anemo vision, and arriving at Dragonspine. Using a tranformation to turn into a bird, the boy flies around and finally sees the giant skull of a dead dragon and some stray fatui. Transforming back, the boy executes a plunge attack, killing the fatui and making them fade away, before making his way through a ribcage and to a cavern with a lot of red crystals and a beating heart. Looking around, the blond's eyes settle on a cloaked figure with a hood hiding in a shadow. With a smile, Naruto turned to the figure and activated his rinnegan. "I can see you, ya'know."

The figure smiled before taking down the hood. "How come I can never hide from you?"

Naruto smiled. "Guess I'm just that good. I mean I did beat you many times. No wonder that "Unknown god" sealed you away so easily."

"Oh shut up fox face."

"So Aether, why did you call me here? I'm technically ruining your orders plans ya' know." Naruto said.

"You met my sister right?" Naruto nodded, and Aether smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, "So what do you think of her?"

Naruto, being as dense he is, answered "I think she's quite beautiful, like most of the girls I've met. She also seems quite determined to find you and leave this world." When he looked at Aether, he felt a chill go down his spine but he dismissed it as nothing.

'This guy just called my sister beautiful like it's no big deal?! Just how dense is this guy?'

"Did you tell her about me?" Aether asked, this time with full seriousness.

"Don't worry. I didn't tell her, and I won't until you are ready." Naruto's words made Aether let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"That's good. Anyways, come with me." Aether opened a portal and walked into it, and Naruto followed.

On the other side, the 2 blonds appeared in a massive bedroom fit for royalty.

"Why are we in your bedroom, Aether?" Naruto asked, pulling a chair from a nearby table.

Aether sat on his bed and faced Naruto. "This is the only place I can get some privacy from the others in the order. So tell me. How was Lumine doing?" Aether wore a small smile and had a pleading look in his eyes.

Naruto smiled and recounted the details he got from Amber and his own moments with Lumine. As Naruto spoke of her, Aether's face slowly lost some tension and a loving smile spread on his face.

"So Aether, I've been meaning to ask, which of you guys is the older twin?"

"That would be me. Though she does keep saying that she is the oldest all the time, and acts like it too. I wonder what she looks like now." Aether's face never lost that smile, though his eyes hid his sadness.

"Maybe you can see her after we free Dvalin? The spikes on his back have been working overtime on keeping him from being corrupted any further and destroying them should free him. Also, what about the fatui? I know they are planning something."

Aether donned a mischievous smirk, "Well my brother from another mother, (cue naruto groaning for ever teaching him that line), here's the plan…

*Later that night*

Naruto tiredly made his way to his room in Dawn winery. He opened the door and laid down on his bed and looked around. Hearing a small poof, he sees a white slug with blue stripes sitting on his bed, holding some letters.

"Message for Naruto Uzumaki." The slug spoke softly.

"Thanks Lady Katsuyu! Are they from granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"Of course it is. Here are the letters. I'll be leaving now."

"Great! Thanks again Lady Katsuyu!" With that, the blonde opened the letters and started reading their contents. Every other week, the Konoha 11, their sensei's, Tsunade, Shizune and the Ichirakus would send him a bundle of letters. Occasionally, they would contain a letter from his non-konoha friends, such as Gaara from Suna and Inari from the Wave.

When it came to jutsu chakra manipulation, the "dead last" was actually better than the top of the class. He had figured out a way for the gang to stay in contact through the summoning jutsu by a slightly altered Hiraishin, that let a single summon be sent to Naruto. He made it like that because he didn't want anyone from his home coming here to ruin his life. So far, his life has been going well. Patrolling the city with his adoptive father, occasionally teasing said father about a certain blond workaholic, meeting up with Aether, hanging out with his friends (Klee could be a handful), and hanging out with Kaeya were some of his favorite things to do.

Reading the letters, the blond 17 year old smiled. With the Akatsuki nearly dead and the jinchuriki safe, Naruto's time worrying about his home is over. Speaking of home, he got a rare letter from Sasuke, who returned after he learned the truth about Itachi and Naruto healed him with his special healing chakra (The one he used on Tsunade during the first chapter). At first, Sasuke did want to destroy Konoha, but Naruto quickly put a stop to that. Anyways, Sasuke's letter told him that he just got into a relationship with Sakura. Naruto smiled at the picture sent and began writing replies. It looked like everyone was dating someone in Konoha, if Tsunade's letters were anything to go by (Cannon ships but Hinata end up with Kiba). An hour later, Naruto finished writing the last of the replies, finishing the letter with the words, "And stop asking me about great grandkids!" Yes, Naruto's appointed grandmother wanted great grandkids, something about him being too old to be single. He had heard enough about it from his mother already. After writing the letters, Naruto summoned a messenger toad and sent them to Konoha.

And with that, the blond changed into his night clothes and went to sleep.

*Sometime before*

"So this bard has a lead on the Dvalin situation?" The acting grand master asked the bartender in front of her. The pub was now closed and Naruto's seals prevented anyone from going undetected.

"Apparently, playing the holy lyre can get through to him. It was stolen by the fatui, but I have some people looking for their base." Diluc answered her, "This is the best lead we have so far, and if this works, we can get 2 birds with 1 stone. Dvalin will be free and the fatui will lose their leverage over Mondstadt."

"Hmm… This plan doesn't seem like a total success. If it works, however, the pros will outweigh the cons, tenfold. Count me in!" Kaeya's declaration made Diluc slowly shake his head with a smile. "What about you grand master?"

Jean also gave a smile, "I'm in! Are we letting anyone else in on this?"

Diluc nods, "Yes, the honorary knight, the bard and Naruto are coming with us. As for the plan, I need Jean to meet the bard and to keep the knights off our back. You are also going to come with us when we confront Dvalin. Kaeya, I need you to try and keep the fatui off our trail in the city. You can tell everyone that the acting grand master is away on urgent business. Sounds good?"

"Let's do it!" Jean said, exited about dealing a blow to the fatui in Mondstadt.

"I'm in!" Kaeya put out his hand and looked at the other two expectantly. "C'mon, just like old times." With a smile Jean put her hand on Kaeya's and Diluc put his on hers.

*In the Cat's Tail*

Lumine couldn't sleep properly. She met a lot people today, did some good deeds that she was handsomely rewarded for, and signed up to save a city. All in all, it was a good day. Tiring, but good. Nad yet she felt something was off about the day. Looking back, she went through her interactions with all of the new people she met today. Amber was a bundle of joy, and had a penchant for cute things. Kaeya was a bit harder to trust but he genuinly seemed to care about Mondstadt. Jean was a strong and respectable, who made Lumine feel safe in her presence. Lisa was a bit eccentric, going as far as calling her "cutie", which confused her a bit. Venti, who turned out to be the anemo archon, and a drunk bard who may not be the smartest. And last but not least, a bartender that looked way too strong to be a bartender. All of them were fairly normal. "So what has me on edge?" she asked out loud.

Then it clicked! Naruto! The conversation she had with him this morning! How did he know Aether's name when she never mentioned him?!

She sat up in her bed. 'Does he know Aether? Or did I just let his name slip? Ok, calm down Lumine. Deep breaths. Ok, I'll ask him tomorrow.'

With that, Lumine went back to sleep, the seed of paranoia already in her heart.

2000 words

Plot twist! Naruto knows Aether! This may be explained in a later chapter or not. As for Naruto getting letters from Konoha, I wanted to make this different from other banished fanfics. Also, Diluc knows about Konoha, Kurama and Naruto's parents being sealed in his gut and about his rinnegan.

P.S. This story will probably have weekly updates from this chapter on, because I need to focus on school.

Anyways, I may have decided on a ship for the story. Also please leave a review. And with that, I'll see you in the next one.